Storyboards

Audience feedback.

After explaining our concept to an audience we found they like to see why the character becomes a criminal. It makes the audience see the error of his ways and because the plot is from the killers point of view is makes them sympathetic towards him so there is emotional engagement, furthermore the audience are more attracted to the story. It creates suspense whilst creating enigmas: will he kill others too? There were areas which the audience disliked. For example, they found there was no reality to the plot and there was no effect from the outside world. It was controversial that it didn’t incorporate the rest of the world and that it didn’t “fit it.” To solve this, we will include more external factors in to the plot such as perhaps another character coming to save the victim or generally more characters involved.

Group Blocked Plan

• Dad knocks on door.
• Mum opens the door and they argue.
• Dad barges in, goes upstairs, mum follows.
• They have an intense argument.
• Dad kills mum.
• Son comes out from the cupboard.
• Man drinks in the alley, looks at the picture of the mother.
• Victim walks down the alley way.
• Drunken man bags the victims head.
• Victim wakes up in a dark room and attacker is staring at him.

My Own Blocked Plan

• Starts in a dark scene, lights fade on then the main characters face appears close up of his intense emotions. Music and transition (not sure what type yet) to next shot.
• Dark surrounding, silent one man walking (main character). Multiple shot of him walking by himself in a dark alley way- isolated.
• Long shot, we see the end of the alley way, a woman walking down the alley way. Isolated apart from these two characters.
• Main character punches her violently until unconscious then puts a bag over her head (via jump cuts). Jump cuts show unsettling
• Flash back- 3 seconds- a couple arguing. This creates an enigma- who are these characters?
• Victim wakes up in a dark garage.
• Flash back- 3 seconds- man strangling woman in house.
• Medium shot of her hand hanging out of the chair and in the background we see the main character watching her, drinking alcohol. This tells us he is mentally unstable, probably due to alcohol.
• Victim wakes up.
• Titles.

Todorov’s Narrative Structure

1. Equilibrium- normal family life to the main character is that he lives in a family with an alcoholic father who killed his mother which has corrupted him mind and now he is a killer.
2. Disruption- criminal captures a woman on the street and kidnaps her.
3. Recognition- she regains consciousness in a garage, he commits violence towards her.
4. Repair- Victim and criminal interact. She fights back by violence and tries to escape (Similarities: hard Candy only includes two characters and is based around a girl trying to escape from a man’s house).
5. Return- She kills criminal and victim escapes.

Comparing Trailers to Title Sequences.

To ensure we don’t create a trailer instead of a title sequence I decided to research the difference. After looking at “Hard Candy” to explore the concept, it is obvious that the trailer summarises the plot line with out exploiting the ending. It shows the best part of the film that conveys the genre best, for example “Hard Candy” shows the parts of the film with where there is most action and heighted emotions of fear and danger, whereas a comedy would preview the funniest elements of the film. Contrastingly, a title sequence (although draws in audience similar to a trailer) establishes character, plot, genre, location and setting and most importantly creates enigma’s.

What will I use from “The Talented Mr Ripley” title sequence?

The talented Mr Ripley title sequence had a lot of features which we could use in our own final production to successfully convey information whist attracting the audience. When we are first introduced to the film, along with music we hear a voiceover from Mr Ripley in addition to close up shots of intense, sorrowful emotions that change with the use of transitions. This builds strong messages about the character- it establishes they they’re the main character and it portrays the type of genre it will be (thriller). The genre is also conveyed by music, we hear airy yet delicate vocal notes of a woman singing so we know this won’t be a light hearted film. Mis-en-scene is shown through a wide shot including the character. Therefore we can establish time and location. One idea which I quite liked was the transitions that stubbly connoted Ripley’s broken personality.